How freakin surprising is that?
Posted on 10/27/2007 10:20:54 AM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
Texas Landowners Have Refused To Allow Federal Government To Build 370 Mile Steel Fence
(AP) EL PASO, Texas -- Cold, hard cash is apparently not enough to quell the anger among landowners over a planned fence along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Opponents of the fence refused federal workers access to their land last month in South Texas. About the same time, the government offered to pay some property owners $3,000 in exchange for permission to conduct surveys for the project.
After many of them balked at the money on principle, the government abandoned the plan.
"I think it's blood money, bribery," said Brownsville Mayor Patricio M. Ahumada Jr.
The proposal to build 370 miles of steel fence is widely opposed in the Rio Grande Valley, the most heavily populated part of the Texas-Mexico border and a region with an economy and culture dependent on cross-border traffic.
The payments were being offered in a region where the median family income is about $30,000. But instead of welcoming the windfall, many residents were outraged when federal officials described the payment plan.
Ahumada, whose border city has already denied fence-planners access to city property, said the payments were insulting and disingenuous.
"The federal government is doing all it can to get access," Ahumada said. "They are thinning the herd (of opposition), so to speak, one by one. These tactics are not unusual when they want to get something done like this."
Johnny Hart, owner of the Riverside Club in Mission, said he sees the money as "nothing more than a bribe." But he wouldn't turn it down.
"Give me $3,000 and you can survey all you want, but it doesn't mean I am not going to fight you" on building the fence, Hart said.
Congress has authorized $1.2 billion to build 700 miles of fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border. The project includes about 330 miles of so-called virtual fence - a network of cameras, high-tech sensors, radar and other technology. The remaining sections, primarily in urban areas are expected to have an actual fence. About 70 miles of actual fence is planned in South Texas.
Noel Benavides, a city councilman and business owner in Roma, said the payments would cloud the issue.
"If this was really something that was going to be beneficial to the whole community and the whole nation, I would be the first person to say, 'My friend, you can go in there and do what you need to do,"' Benavides said. "It's going to be a waste of time. It's not going to stop illegal immigrants."
Benavides, a lifelong resident of Roma, said residents and local governments may eventually lose their battle against the fence, but they plan to keep fighting. State officials, including Republican Gov. Rick Perry, also oppose plans to build the fence.
On Tuesday, Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat from Laredo who is opposed to the fence, said Homeland Security authorities told him the payment plan was off. He did not elaborate.
It was not clear what prompted the change of heart. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Brad Benson did not return several phone calls from The Associated Press.
Ahumada said the issue was also a matter of historical and patriotic pride.
"You are talking about land that Texans and Americans shed blood for to keep," he said. "And now they are trying to move the border further north than established by treaty."
Alternatively, the government can go to court with counterclaims regarding the location of the boundary. There the landowner stands a chance of losing any compensation at all.
Another option would be to build the fence AROUND the distrungled property owner conveniently leaving him on the Mexican side (with no entrance into the US).
Of all the solutions possible I prefer moving the border to the North. If these guys don't want to play ball with the US, then the US shouldnt play ball with them.
Time for some use the old-fashioned imminent domaining.
How freakin surprising is that?
What is that about? If some of our land is in Mexico, let's go take it and build the fence there!
The entire demographics, and thus destiny, of the U.S. must be transformed so that a few landowners not be bothered with a fence bordering their property.
Blood Money, Patricio, well just maybe your loyalties favor south of the Rio Grand, NOT the U.S.A.
The fence should be built where there is no river. Not that many people try to cross the river especially in
Brownsville. It is deeper and wider at the mouth of the Rio Grande river. Not many people try to swim it.
Think about it. With only 700 miles of fencing approved, the fence should be built where there is not a barrier already. It should be built where that scraggly bobwire fence is.
The Dept. Of Homeland wanted to place the fence where it isn’t necessarily needed.
Yep.
"You are talking about land that Texans and Americans shed blood for to keep," he said. "And now they are trying to move the border further north than established by treaty."
Did you knee jerk yourself into a stupor before you read the entire article?
Nah. Call it a newly-discovered cultural appreciation of the Mexican practice of mortida.
The argument that the government can do nothing is a lot of BS.They can use the “immanent domain” option if they choose to, like a 50 foot path from one end to the other of the disputed land.
The fellows that crossed the border where it is on the river are/were called “wet backs” for obvious reasons. Today that term is not PC and seldom used by the MSM.
Well since these ‘landowners’ are so opposed to keeping illegals out, let them pay my taxes that support the illegals.
Sounds fair to me.
The fence should be built where there is no river.
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A couple years back I flew from houston south over the rio grand and then over northern mexico on my way to hawaii.
Looking down from the airplane I could see millions of trail leading north all along the Rio Grande.
I’m sure everyone sees them. Its no great mystery what’s happening.
No doubt you could see trails as there is no pavement. May people line up by the river holding cups, begging.
I am not saying that some people don’t swim across. They do. But you have to admit that you don’t see the pictures of them swimming like you see them walking across in Arizona, hundreds at a time. Arizona is where the fence is needed.
If there were many people swimming, don’t you think there would be pictures on the nightly news?
Arizona needs the fencing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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